Rotorthrust outboard motor



Jan. 7, 1964 E. L. BLAKE 3,116,598

ROTORTHRUST OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed July 5. 1961 2 Shets-Sheet 1 FIG.| 06

O/Wazer Pump] fawn 4rd P0512100 INVENTOR. EDDIE L. BLAKE Jan. 7, 1964 E.L, BLAKE 3,116,598 ROTORTHRUST OUTBOARD MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJuly 3, 1961 INVENTOR. EDDIE L. BLAKE United States Patent 3,116,598ROTGRTPRUST OUTBUARD MOTOR Eddie L, Blake, Route 1, Box 166, Glenwood,Ark. Filed July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,486 4 Claims. (Cl. 60-35.6)

This is a continuation-in-part of my copendinig application filed August29, 1960, Serial Number 52,731, now abandoned.

The present invention generally relates to propulsion for boats or thelike and is intended as an outboard motor for boats incorporating anovel structure for producing a thrust for propelling the boat.

Conventionally, outboard motors have been provided with a piston typeinternal combustion engine driving a propeller through suitable gearingmechanism for rotating the propeller.

In distinction to this, the present invention has for its primary objectthe provision of an outboard motor of the type discharging an ignitedand expanding volume of combustion products and in a predetermineddirection in relation to the boat whereby the discharge of thecombustion products will expand against the water thus producing athrust to force the boat in the direction opposite to the direction ofdischarge of the combustion products.

Another object of the present invention is to provide outboard motorhaving an air compressor driven from the expanding combustion productsby virtue of an axial flow turbine which will provide power to drive thecompressor and also drive other items such as a fuel pump, water pumpand the like.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide anoutboard motor having only rotary components in which simple controlsare provided for controlling the fuel and air ratio, the ignition of thecombustible charge and the direction of discharge of the expandingcombustion products.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in Which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially through thecenter of the outboard motor illustrating the relationship of componentsof the motor with the nozzle mechanism oriented for forward movement ofthe boat.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, plan, sectional view taken substantially upona plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating theconstruction of the rotor blades;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 1 illustrating theconstruction of the turbine blades;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view illustrating the discharge nozzle havingthe control mechanism therefor disposed in neutral position; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 with the nozzlemechanism oriented for rearward movement of the boat.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 19 generally designates theoutboard motor or" the present invention which includes a tubularhousing or cylindrical member 12 stationarily attached to the transom ofa boat by a suitable clamp 14 pivotally attached to the 3,11%,593Patented Jan. 7, 1954 housing 12 for movement about a horizontal axis 16and a vertical axis 13 thus enabling tilting and swinging of theoutboard motor in a conventional manner.

Disposed at the top of the tubular member 12 is a bottom plate 2d of ahousing including a wall 22 and a top 2 for forming a stator for acompressor assembly.

The compressor assembly includes an elongated shaft 26 extendingvertically through the housing 'with the shaft 2d having an elongatedpassageway 28 extending therethrough. Disposed to one side of thehousing 22 is a fuel tank 3% having an opening or neck 32 thereontogether with a cap 34. Disposed below the tank 36 is a fuel pump 3%having an inlet 33 communicating with the bottom area of the tank 3t.Tie pump 36 connects with a tubular member 49 extending upwardly andconnected with the shaft or axle 26. A needle valve 4-2 is provided inthe tubular member ill and is movable towards and away from the seat 44in the upper end of the shaft or axle 26 whereby the quantity of fueldischarged into the tubular passageway 23 may be varied by varying thesetting of the needle valve 42.

Disposed internally of the tubular housing 12 is a member which is inthe form of a cylinder 46. The annular space 4-3 between the tubularmember 12 and the cylinder to forms a water chamber in comrnunica tionwith a water pump 5% through an enlarged opening 52 at the bottom of thesleeve 12. The water pump 'l'll is driven from an elongated shaft 54 andhas an intake 55 extending through a bottom plate 58 which also forms abottom for the pump 59, a bottom for the annular space 48 and partiallycloses the interior of the cylinder 46. The shaft 26 extends completelydown to a point adjacent the bottom end of the cylinder 46 and rigidlymounted thereon is a rotating cylinder head oil which rotates inrelation to the cylinder 46 and is sealingly connected thereto by sealmember s2. The lower surface of the cylinder head tl is provided with asemicircular concave surface forming a combustion chamber 64 and theperiphery of the rotating cylinder head is provided with teeth 66 forengagement with a gear 68 on the upper end of the shaft 54 thus drivingthe water pump 58. Also provided on the shaft 54 is a V-belt pulley 7iengaging a V-belt 72 that also engages a V-belt pulley 74 for drivingthe fuel pump 36. The shaft 76 for the fuel pump 36 is supported by abearing assembly 73.

Spaced from the periphery of the cylinder head 60, there is provided anupwardly extending annular groove or recess 8-3 which receives a rollerthrust bearing assembly 82 thus forming a support for the cylinder head6% and the shaft 26 which is keyed to the cylinder head 60 at point 84.

The cylinder head is provided with passageways 86 receiving compressedair from the compressor assembly and also the ttuel passageway 28communicates with the interior of the cylinder 46 adjacent the cylinderhead 6% whereby the air and fuel are mixed together in the proper ratioand a spark plug or an equivalent igniting device is employed forigniting the-combustible mixture where upon the combustible mixture willthen expand downwardly in an axial manner through the cylinder 4% fordischarge through a discharge fitting 9d in the bottom plate 58.'Rigi'dly aifixed to the shaft 26 are a plurality of turbine blades 92which are provided with radially extending fins or blade members 94which are inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder46 so that upon passage of expanding combustion products over thesurfaces of the fins the blades 92 and the shaft will be rotated due tothe keying engagement of the blades 2 with the shaft 26 as indicated at96.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the compressor assembly is provided withenlarged central inlet 3 in the top wall 24- and this inlet iscommunicated with an air intake manifold of any suitable constructionand any suitable air cleaners or the like may be provided thereon. Thecompressor itself is provided with a plurality of rotors 1G2 having apair of spiral blades 1% on the upper surface thereof. The blades fillthe area between adjacent plates and outer air deflectors res and innerair deflectors 1% serve to move the air in a radial direction. Eachrotor 13?. is provided with a purality of apertures 110, alternating inlocation adjacent the outer edge of the rotor, in the uppermost rotorand each alternate 1 wer rotor, and the center of the rotor, in therotor beneath the uppermost rotor and each alternate lower rotor.apertures decrease in size progressively from the uppermost to thelowermost rotor in which the apertures are small pinholes incommunication with the passageways 36 in the cylinder d8, as is clearlyshown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing. Thus, as the rotors spin with theshaft the two blades of the uppermost rotor force air from the centralinlet 93 outwardly through the large apertures lit) adjacent to theouter edge thereof and into proximity with the blades 184 of the nextlower rotor which force the air radially outwardly and downwardlythrough the slightly smaller holes 118 in such next lower rotor. Thisprocess is repeated in each lower rotor, whereby the. air iscontinuously compressed and forced through increasingly smallerapertures until it is finally discharged into the combustion chamber 64through the inner pinholes 110 formed in the lowermost rotor and throughthe communicating passageways Se in the cylinder head.

At the lower end of th tubular member 12 and below the plate 58, thedischarge member 3 is attached to an elongated nozzle 112 having anoutwardly flared end 114 and a cylindrical end 116. Annular grooves 113are formed on the interior surface of the discharge nozzle and thepassage formed thereby is in communication wtih the tube 95). Ashiftable baffle control 120 is provided which has a configurationsimilar to the configuration of the grooves HS and controls thedirection of discharge of the combustion products as they enter thenozzle 112. As illustrated, the grooves 118 are triangular inconfiguration and the annular bafile control 120 is also provided withtriangular surfaces for close fitting engagement therewith.

In the position illustrated in FIGURE l, the products of comb stion willbe directed through the groove 118 and adjacent baffie control 1 0, anddischarged rearwardly through the nozzle 112 as indicated by the arrowin FIGURE 1 thus causing a thrust to be produced for urging the boat ina forward manner. FIGURE 4 illustrates the central position of thebaille control ring or valve 112% where the thrust produced will beneutralized since a portion thereof will extend in each direction.FIGURE 5 illustrates the bafile control ring in the forward positionthus discharging the products of combustion forwardly thus causing theboat to move rearwardly.

Adjacent the upper end f the tubular member 12 and at what may beconsidered the bottom of the combu tion aea, the cylinder 46 is providedwith aperture for purposes of communicating the combustion chamcr withthe annular space thus introducing water into the combustion productsfor discharge of the combustion products together with steam which isforms when a small amount of water was introduced into the com- Thesebustion chamber by virtue of the small apertures 122 thus producing anadditional thrust to the engine.

In operation, the compressor supplies combustion supporting air to thecombustion chamber 54 and a suitable control valve such as a butterflyvalve or the like may be employed for controlling the quantity of air.This apparatus could be initially started in several ways, none of whichare intended to form a part of the present invention. For example, thestarting could be done by an electric motor mounted upon the apparatusand geared to the drive shaft to supply the initial rotation foroperating the fuel pump, allowing the discharge of air into thecombustion chamber, and causing ignition of the mixture. This operationcould also be performed by hand, such as with a draw cable and a sheaveapplied to the top of the rotor shaft, as in the starting of other typesof combustion engines. Fuel is admitted through the bored shaft 26, thefuel pump 36 supplying fuel under pressure and the needle valveadjusting the quantity of fuel. As the fuel and air are mixed in thecombustion chamber the mixture will be ignited by the spark plug 82 orother suitable igniter timed in a proper manner and the igniter may beconnected to any ignition device such as a magneto or the like. Suitablelubrication means may be provided as needed and means may be providedfor controlling the position of the annular ring 12% thus determiningthe direction of thrust produced. Water passing into the combustionchamber will be promptly converted into steam and as this mixture isdischarged, it will turn the turbine rotors 92. and then be dischargedfrom the nozzle 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily ocur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In an outboard motor for the propulsion of a boat comprising, incombination, a cylindrical member, means on said member for mounting iton the transom of a boat with the lower end of the member disposed belowthe surface of the water, a nozzle communicating with the lower end ofthe member and having open ends, a housing mounted on the upper end ofthe member and communicating therewith, an elongated shaft extendingthrough said housing and member, compressor means mounted on said shaftin said housing, said housing including air inlet means for thecompressor means adjacent the top of said housing and air outlet meanscom municating the compressor means with the member for discharging airinto said member, said shaft having a longitudinal bore communicating atopposite ends with the top of said housing and with the interior of saidmember, fuel supply means connected with one end of the bore forsupplying fuel to the interior of said member below the housing formixture with air from said compressor means, ignition taking place insaid member, said shaft including a plurality of turbine blades mountedthereon within said member whereby axial flow of combustion productswill cause rotaiton of the shaft thus driving the compressor, and meansin said nozzle controlling the direction of expanding combustionproducts for producing a thrust, said member having a water jacket inspaced enclosing relation thereto defining a water chamber, a Water pumpfor circulating water in the water chamber, and said member includingsmall openings adjacent the upper end thereof for inlet of water intothe combustion chamber for conversion to steam for discharge with thecombustion products.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft is providedwith a cylinder head rotatable with the shaft, means between the headand member for maintaining a seal for preventing flow of combustionproducts therethrough, and gear means on the head for driving the waterpump, said fuel supply including a pump driven by said gear means.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein a needle control valve isprovided in the bore in the shaft to control input of fuel.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said nozzle is in theform of a venturi, said means for controlling discharge including amovable annular ring of 1 References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Flanagan Oct. 31, 1950 Fentress June 2, 1953

1. IN AN OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR THE PROPULSION OF A BOAT COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION, A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, MEANS ON SAID MEMBER FOR MOUNTING ITON THE TRANSOM OF A BOAT WITH THE LOWER END OF THE MEMBER DISPOSED BELOWTHE SURFACE OF THE WATER, A NOZZLE COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOWER END OFTHE MEMBER AND HAVING OPEN ENDS, A HOUSING MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OFTHE MEMBER AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH, AN ELONGATED SHAFT EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID HOUSING AND MEMBER, COMPRESSOR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFTIN SAID HOUSING, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING AIR INLET MEANS FOR THECOMPRESSOR MEANS ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING AND AIR OUTLET MEANSCOMMUNICATING THE COMPRESSOR MEANS WITH THE MEMBER FOR DISCHARGING AIRINTO SAID MEMBER, SAID SHAFT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL BORE COMMUNICATING ATOPPOSITE ENDS WITH THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING AND WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAIDMEMBER, FUEL SUPPLY MEANS CONNECTED WITH ONE END OF THE BORE FORSUPPLYING FUEL TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID MEMBER BELOW THE HOUSING FORMIXTURE WITH AIR FROM SAID COMPRESSOR MEANS, IGNITION TAKING PLACE INSAID MEMBER, SAID SHAFT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TURBINE BLADES MOUNTEDTHEREON WITHIN SAID MEMBER WHEREBY AXIAL FLOW OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTSWILL CAUSE ROTATION OF THE SHAFT THUS DRIVING THE COMPRESSOR, AND MEANSIN SAID NOZZLE CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF EXPANDING COMBUSTIONPRODUCTS FOR PRODUCING A THRUST, SAID MEMBER HAVING A WATER JACKET INSPACED ENCLOSING RELATION THERETO DEFINING A WATER CHAMBER, A WATER PUMPFOR CIRCULATING WATER IN THE WATER CHAMBER, AND A SAID MEMBER INCLUDINGSMALL OPENINGS ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF FOR INLET OF WATER INTOTHE COMBUSTION CHAMBER FOR CONVERSION TO STEAM FOR DISCHARGE WITH THECOMBUSTION PRODUCTS.